Machine for gumming wrapper-blanks for boxes or packages.



.L Sn SIOIIES AND' I. E. Hmm. MACHINE Pow urwmme WRAPPER LAmIxs Fon noms im MINIMES.

APPLICATIOII FILED IMIVII. 19H. 4

q Patented May 6, IQIQ I 2 SHEEMWMIEIN l.

IH I D w L S.l SYOKES, AND E. RIDER.

MACHINE FR GUMMING WRAPPER BtANKS FOR BOXES 0H IAKAGES.

APPLICATION man MM m, 19u.

LHUQWM@ Patented May 19198 Y ETS-SHEET 2| STATES PATENT oEEIcE- JOE-iN STOGDELL STORES, OF.MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY, AND ERNEST G. RIDER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO STOKES AND SMITH COMPANY, F SUMMEEDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FORGUMMING WRAPPER-BLANKS FOR BOXES OR PACKAGES.

naaste.

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' To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN S'roenELL Sronns and ERNEST G. RIDER, both vcitizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Moorestoivn and Philadel hia, in the counties of Burlington and Fhiladelphia., and States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Gumming Wrapper- Blanks for Boxes or Packages, of which the following is a specification.

@ur present invention relates to machines for gumming wrapper blanks for boxes or packages.

Among the objects 'of the invention are:

To provideva novel form of rotary blanksupporting platen by means of which the form is readily ,placed in position without requiring the use of an adhesive coating on the platen surface. f i

To provide an improved form.

To provide improved methods of eliminating the curl which is normally produced on blanks when the latter have been adhesively coated and during the drying o the adhesive, together with apparatus for carrying the methods into e'ect.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invent1on conslsts 1n the lmproved construction and combination of parts, together with the methods, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view, partly in section and partly in elevation showing a simple form of adhesive-applying mechanism adapted to coperate with the platen, together with a simple form of delivery mechanism which may be employed to de` liver the blanks to the platen.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the platen.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views indicating the manner in which the opposite ends of the form-supporting Wire strands are secured.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view Specification of Letters lPatent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

.Application iled Hay 14, 1917. Serial No. 163,429.

indicating the manner in which the Wire l strands coperate with the form.

'its coperating parts arranged to eliminate the curl.

Fig. 'Z is an elevation of the platen of Fig. 6 with portions broken away.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing the arrangement of the platen.

In devices of this type employing a rotary blank-supporting platen for carrying the wrapper during the adhesive-applying operation, it is the general practice to secure a form to the face of the platen, the form conforming more or less to the shape of the blank, the form being positioned on the platen in such manner as to permit proper delivery of the adliesively-coatcd blank to the mechanism-which transfers the coated blank to proper position in the wrapping mechanism. rl`he use of the form tends to raise the exposed face of the blank above the normal face of the platen, and as the adhesive-applying roll or rolls are generally arranged to contact with such raised face, the arrangement tends to reduce liability of applying adhesive to the portions of the platen face not covered by the blank.

The practice heretofore lhas generally ably securing the form in position WithoutV the use of adhesive, thus eliminating the tendency to produce raised portions on the face of the platen and at the same time eliminating the loss of time which is required in giving the face of the platen a sutliciently thorough cleaning. This result in the instance shown, which is one embodiment of the invention is obtained by stretch ing a plurallty of wire strands of small tact with the platen or with a blanket mounted on the platen-if the blanket feature is employed. The mechanisln for producing this action is of a simple type such as will permit of the quick positioning or Aremoval of the form when a change is desired.

By this' change in manner of securing the form, We are. also enabled if desired, to use a blanket of felt'or other suitable material as the form or as a textile element beneath the form, sincethere is no requirement of securing the blanket to the platen bythe use of; adhesive.

Another feature of the present invention is themethod of treating the blank, while on the platen, for theremoval of the curl which generally results during the conditioning of the coating prelin'iinary to the application of the wrapper to the box or package, this conditioning tending to produce a more or less tacky form of coating on the blank. Blanks of the cornered type are especially subject to this curling action and since this type of blank is usually employed, the ydifficulty is one generally present.

This curl can be eliminated to a more or,

less extent by subjecting that face of the blank opposite to the face on which the adhesive is appliedto the action of moisture which, may` if desired, be in the form of steam, thereby killing the curl. In the present invention, this application of rmoisture or steam being preferably had while the blank is on the platen, thus enabling the remedial agent to be applied before the curl has materially developed and practically anticipating the formation of the curl.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a rotary platen having a wrapper-gripping mechanis-m of any preferred type, indicated at 11. The adhesive-applyingv mechanism is indi'- cated at a. being of any preferred type, that shown in the drawings including asupply roll 12 adapted to receiveits supply from a tank 13, a distributer roll 14, and a plurality of rolls 15 of the type having spaced adhesive-applying faces, the faces of one roller being opposite the spaces between the faces of the other roller so that the wrapper blanks. when drawn over the two adhesive` applying rolls, will have a coating of adhesive applied over substantially the entire area of one face of the blank. Obviously, the gil-mining mechanism may be of a different type and may, if desired. be of types adapted to provide a striped or spotted effeet on the blank.

The blanks are delivered to the platen by any desired mechanism, that shown in the drawings indicating a type in which the bottom blank from the pile is delivered into a throat by a suction roll 16, the blank bcing advanced by a pair of. iolls 17 into the position to be grasped by the gripping mechanism 11.

These mechanisms, While shown in forms now in connnercial use, are intended as simply illustrative, any preferred arrangement for these purposes being contemplated With in the spirit of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the form 18 may be of the usual type, as for instance card-board or other material, or, as shown in Fig. 6, it may be of felt or other suitable material. Uf if desired, it may be a combination of the twe materials bv the use of separate layers.

As shown in the drawings, the means for securing the form in position is by a plurality of wire strands 19, of comparatively small gage, these Wires being of suitable length and having their ends preferably formed with eyes l9 which are adapted to be engaged by the hooks of holding devices, these holding devices being located in spaces formed in the platen so that the ends of the wire strands are located below the peripheral face of the platen.

The holding devices may be of any suitable type and may, if desired, be similar at the opposite ends of the strands: but we prefer to employ structures of the type shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, in which the strands are held under spring tension, and at the same time the holding devices are such that the strands may be quickly placed in position or removed from such position. In the arr. ngement shown, 20 indicates a bar of non-circular cross-section 105 on which are mounted a plurality of collars 21 each carrying a hook 21a on which the eye of a strand is removably supported. The holding means for the' opposite end of a strand is provided by a bar 22, preferably of non-circular cross-section and carrying a plurality of collars 23 having apertured projections 23a. Each projection 23 carries a rod 2l. said rod extending through the aperture of projection 23a and having one end 115 hook-shaped, as at 24C, the other end of the rod carrying an abutment 24h between which and the projection is mounted a coillspring 25, the hook 24 receiving the eye of` the strand. 120

As ,will be obvious, the'spring 25, when*` the strand has its opposite ends connected to hooks 21a and 24, will be held under the tension provided by spring 25, the tension of the spring being preferably such as to 125 cause that portion of the strand extending over the face of the form to become more or less embedded in the form as indicated more particularly in Figs. 5 and 8. lVhen it is desired to remove the form, it is necessary 130 lllll moana;

only to push rod 24 inwardly, thus relieving the tension on the strand, permitting the eye to be disengaged from either hook. By reversing this operation the strand may be placed in position.

Collars 21 and 23 are preferably slidably mounted on rodsand 22, so that the positions of the strands may be varied as desired, and since the direction of pull on the strand remains constant, there is no tendency of the coll-ars to shift when the strands are in position. Obviously, any desired number of strands may be employed, rods 20 and 22 All5 carrying a sufficient number of collars to permit the desired number of strands to be used, it being understood that all or only a portion of the holding devices may be employed at any one time, the active hook devices being those which hold a strand in position.

@wing to the taut condition of the strands and the particular manner in Which they are ledvabou-t the active face of the platen, the

form will be held against shifting movements during operation, While at the same time the strands Will not materially aii'ect the adhesive-applying operation, due to the fact that the strands are practically embedded Within the form and present no material faces projecting above. the face of the form. By this arrangement, the form may be formed of any desired material and may., as heretofore pointed out be of paper, paperboard, card-board,'etc., or may be oftextile material such for insta-nce as felt 'or canvas.

- Mechanism `for killing the curl of the blank is shown more particularly in Figs. n

6 to 8, embodying structural elements by means oi. which a moistening or a steaming eil'ect is produced on the blank While the latter is present on the platen. While We have shown a general embodiment of such means, it will be readily understood that other Ways for producing the desired result may be employed, and We desire it to be understood .that the invention is not limited by the specific mechanism disclosed.

As heretoforel pointed out, the curl may be killed either by the application of moisture to that face ot the blank opposite to that on Which the adhesive is applied, or by the application of steam to such blank face, depending somewhat upon the character of the blank and of the adhesive. In the drawings, the embodiment shown is of a form by means of which either can be employed, but it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited to the presence of apparatus for providing a selective action, the invention contemplating the use of moisture-applying means alone. And While the moisture-applying means, in the embodiment shown, forms a part of the steam-producing structure, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this respect, other Ways of producing the steam action being considered as falling Within the scope of the invention.

In the embodiment shown, the form is preferably, although not necessarily, of the textile fabric type, thus producing a more or less absorbent blank-supporting face on which the siquid, preferably Water, can be applied. his action is had by the use of a roll 33 having a suitable surface 33 `which is adapted to contact with the-face of the form and also with a suitable supply means 34; extending into tank 35, supply-'means 34 feeding the Water to face 33a in desired amounts, face 33al acting somewhat as a distributing face in delivering the Water supply tothe eXposed face of form 18, the amount supplied obviously being small but suflicient to produce a moistening effect on the blank when the latter is in positionron the dampened face of the form. Obviously, face 33 may be arranged to provide the Water application at predetermined points Where the adhesive is applied only at intervals, the particular form shown bein adapted to apply thewater throughout the face of the form on the assumption that the blank is to be coated throughout its face.

Roll 33 is positioned to contact with the face of the form in advance of the positioning of the blank on the form, so that the form face is dampened When the blank is received by the platen., Fig. 1 indicating one position in which the roll may be located to produce this eii'ect. Hence, when the blank is advanced through the adhesive-applying mechanism, its opposite face is being subjected t-o the moistening action of the dampf cned form,l the result being that the particular lconditions which are conducive to the production of the curl are practically eliminated.

In the instance shown in the drawings, this Water distribution on thel face of the forni provides the Water supply for the development of steam, the small amount of Water which is applied to form 1'8 being subjected to the action of heat to generate the Water into steam, thus subjecting the under face of the blank to the action of steam rather than the action of the moisture'. This result 'is provided by forming the -platen, beneath the form, with aspace in which is mounted a plurality of electric conduct/ors, indicated as in the form of Wires 30 extend? ing in the direction of length of the platen and suitably insulated to produce an electric heating structure, the current being supplied in any suitable manner as by the use of contacts 31 at one end of the platen, and brushes 32 coperating With the contacts during the travel of the platen, the

4heating effect in advance of the positioning of the blank and throughout the travel of the blank in position on the platen, so that assurance is practically had that such steaming action will be presented While the blank is so positioned and prior to the its release from the platen.

As will be readily understood, the presenceof the heating means on the face of the platen beneath the form practically prevents the use of an adhesive as the means for securing the form in position, so that it is practically'ess'ential that a different type of form-securmg means-such for instance as disclosed herein-be employed Where the moisture or steam-applying mechanism is employed. A

While the form-securing and moisture or steam-applying structures are particularly applicable for use in connection with gumming mechanism for wrappersor other types of blanks, it will be readily understood that these form-securing or moisture or steamapplying mechanisms may be employed in mechanisms adapted for other uses and the invention is therefore not considered as limited in this respect. Similarly, the mechanisms may be employed in conjunction or separately, as the particular uses to which the mechanisms are to be put may require, it not being desired to limit -the invention to the conjoint use, since, as pointed out, either may be omitted, depending on the particular use. While we have herein shown and described preferred ways in which the invention may be carried into eiiect, it will be readily understood that changes or modifications therein may be found desirable or necessary Ito meet the exigencies of use, and We desire to be understood as reserving the right `t-o make any and all such changes therein as may be found desirable or essential, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims when broadly construed.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, is

l. In combination, a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen, and means for securing the support in position,

genera.

said means including a plurality of strands overlying the exposed surface of the suport.

p 2. In combination, 'a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen, and means for securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of wire strands overlying the exposed surface of the support.

3. In combination, a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen, and means for securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of taut Wire strands overlying the exposed surface of the support.

et. In combination, a rota-ry platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen, and means yfor securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of strands overlying the exposed surface and more or -less embedded within the body of the support.

l5. In combination, a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen, and means for securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of strands overyling the exposed surface of the support, and means for detachably securing said strands inposition.

6. In combination, a rotaryplaten having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachablymounted on the platen, -and means for securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of hook members positioned beyond opposite ends of' the support, and a plurality of wire strands each having its opposite ends detachably engaging hook members.

7. In combination, a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support.

detachably mounted on the platen, and means for securingr the support in position, said means including a plurality of hook members positioned beyond opposite ends of the support, bars or rods of non-circular cross-section for supporting the hook members to permit adjustment of the latter in the direction of length of the bars or rods, and a plurality of wire strands overlying the blank support and having their opposite ends detachably secured to hook members.

8. In combination. a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support. detachably mounted on the platen, and means for securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of hook members positionedbeyond opposite ends of the support, bars or rods of non-circular cross-section for supporting the hook members to permit adjustment of the latter in the direction of length of the bars or rods, a pluof thesupport, bars or rods of non-circular cross-section for supporting the hoo-k members to permit adjustment of the latter in the direction of length of the bars or rods, and a plurality of Wire strands overlying the blank support and having their opposite ends detachably secured to hook members, predetermined hook members carrying tension-applying means for tensioning and yieldably supporting the strands.

10. In combination, a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachably mounted on theplaten and comprising a form on which the blank is supported While on the platen, and means for securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of wire strands overlying the exposed surface of the support.

1l. lln combination, a rotary platen having blank-gripping mechanism, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen and comprising a composite form on which the blank is supported While on the platen, and

means for securing the support in position,

said means including a plurality of Wire strands overlying the exposed surface of the support. p

12. lln combination, a rotary platenhavv ing blank-gripping mechanism, a blank Supl xtti port detachably mounted on the platen and comprising a blanket and a form superposed thereon, and means for securing the support in position, said means including a plurality of Wire strands overlying the exposed sur face of the support.

13. ln the art of gumming blanks, the method of eliminating the curl Which consists in acially supporting a blank on a moistened surface, and applying adhesive to the opposite face of thel blank While it is thus supported and in the moistened condi tion.

14. In the art of gumming blanks, the method of preventing the natural curling tendency resulting from application of liquid adhesive to a face thereof, which consists in racially supporting a blank to be moistened and gummed, and concurrently applying moisture and adhesive respectively to opposite faces of the supported blank. i

15. lin the art of gumming blanks, the method of eliminatin the curl which consists in positioning t e blank on a-blankadvancing support, applying a liquid to the face of the support in advance of blank sitioning, #applying adhesive to the blank while so supported, and changing the liquid to steam and applying the latter to the blank While the latter is so supported.

16. In mechanism for removing curl from blanks, a rotary platen having a blank-supporting face, and meansV for producing on said face a steam eiiect on the blank while the latter is so supported.

` 17. In mechanism for removing curl from blanks, a rotary -platen having a blank-supporting face, and means for rendering said face active to produce a steam effect on the blank while the latter is `so supported.

18. In mechanism for removing curl 'from blanks, a rotary platen having( a blank-supv porting face, and mea-ns effective on said face for producing a steam effect on the blank while the latter is so supported, said means including a liquid-applying structure adapted to contact with said face in advance of blank positioning, and means carried by the platen for causing applied liquid to be changed into steam during travel of the platen.

19. lin mechanism for removing curl from blanks, a rotary platen having a blank-supporting face, and means eective von said 'face for producing a steamei'eo't on the blank While thela'tter is so supported, said means including a liquidapplying structure adapted to contact with said iace in advance of blank positioning, and heating means carried by the platen for changing applied liquid to steam at such face.

20. lln mechanism for removing curl from blanks, arotary platen having a blanksupporting face, and means edective on said face for producing va steam effect on the blank While the latter is so supported, said means including a liquid-applying structure adapted to contact with said face in advance of blank positioning, 'electrical heating means carried by the platen and operative to cause applied liquid` to bechanged to steam at such face, and means for connecting said electrical heating means to a source of supply. i

y21. In combination, a rotary platen, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen and adapted to produce a blank-supporting face raised from the platen, and means overlying said support for removably securing the support in position.

' 22. In combination, a rotary platen, a blank support detachably mounted on the platen, and mechanism for securing the support in position, said mechanism including a plurality of strands overlying the support, and means carried by the platen and individually eoperating with strand ends for removably' securing the strands Yin position.

23. In combination, a rotary platen, a

blank support detachably mounted on the platen, and mechanism for securing the support in position, said mechanism including a plurality of strands overlying the support, and means carried by the platen and indi'- vidually copemtin-g with strand ends for removably securing the strands in position, said means including a plurality of members adjustable in the direction of platen axis to permit adjustment of individual strands ou said support.

24. In mechanism of the type described, a rotary blank-supporting platen, a form removably secured to the platen and having a blanksupporting face, means for producing a' steam action at said face, and adhesiveapplying mechanism operative on the blank While so supported. l

25. In mechanism of the type described, a rotary platen having a.. blank-supporting face, adhesive-applying mechanism operative on the blank when so supported during travel of the platen, and means for causing said face toproduce a steam eifect on the blank "While the latter is so supported.

26. In the art of gumming blanks, the

method of eliminating the curl which con sists in facially supporting a blank on an absorbent surface, applying a liquid to the said surface to moisten the same render the meisten a blank to prevent curlin thereof, Y

means for moistening said' absor nt support, and means for applying an adhesive coating to the exposed face of a moistened blank carried'by said support.-

28. In mechanism of the character described, a rotary blank-sup rting and carrying platen having a blanlisupport of absorbent material adapt'ed to support and moisten a blank to prevent curling thereof when a coating is applied to its exposed face. means for applying a moistening medium to said absorbent support, means for feeding blanks successively to the moisbened support, and means for applying an adhesive coating to the exposed face of a moistened blank carried by said support.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

J. STOGDELL STOKES. ERNEST G.RIDER. 

